NUMBER eight Blair Cowan is recalled to the starting line-up as Worcester Warriors travel to Welford Road to face Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership tomorrow evening (7.45pm).

Cowan is rewarded for a sensational display off the bench against Newcastle Falcons last week with a starting spot as Head Coach Richard Hill makes just two changes to a winning side.

Flanker Matt Kvesic is also named in the back row, alongside Sam Betty, as Jake Abbott is ruled out with a twisted ankle.

Joe Carlisle (thumb), Errie Claassens (knee), Andy Short (shoulder) and Richard Muagututia (cheek) are also unavailable due to injury.

“Leicester are playing at the top of their game at the moment, they are a fantastic team, so we are under no illusions that our defence has to be the best that it has this season,” said Hill.

“Leicester are capable of putting pressure on you 80 minutes so it’s going to have to be a huge defensive performance and to beat them.

“We are going to have to score tries, it’s not going to be one of those games where there’s going to be three to six points in it by penalty kicks.

“They will keep the ball in hand and they have to get a try bonus point against us because they have got a tough run-in.

“We are going to be prepared for that so we are going to have to score at the other end as well. With that in mind we are going to have to find some chinks in the Leicester armoury, and there’s not many there.”

Warriors: Pennell; Garvey, Grove, Rasmussen, Benjamin; Goode, Perry; Mullan, Lutui, Taumoepeau, Percival, Jones, Betty, Kvesic, Cowan. Replacements: Shervington, Jones, Douglas, Gillies, Horstmann, Arr, Gray, Fatiaki.